My sample of Pearl Millet came back .53 percent nitrates. The sample was collected by pulling up the most yellow and scrawny plants in the 4 acre field. The whole plants were sent to Texas A & M. I have been told it is safe for the cattle to graze. Does anyone have experience with this kind of test result. Any comments appreciated.
Nitrates in Peral Millet .53 percent
- Thread starter east_tex
- Start date
regolith
Well-known member
Over .2% is considered toxic. Why did you not collect a representative sample of the field?
There will be ways to graze it to reduce risk... dilute the diet with hay or lower nitrate pasture. Nitrates are lowest in the afternoon, highest in the stem near the ground, all that guff. I'd be interested to know if anyone else considers that safe because my vet certainly wasn't going to recommend leaving cows on a crop over .2%
There will be ways to graze it to reduce risk... dilute the diet with hay or lower nitrate pasture. Nitrates are lowest in the afternoon, highest in the stem near the ground, all that guff. I'd be interested to know if anyone else considers that safe because my vet certainly wasn't going to recommend leaving cows on a crop over .2%
wbvs58
Well-known member
Yes it doesn't sound like a representative sample you collected. Nitrates are higher in stressed and wilting plants.
Ken
Ken
I am going to re sample the field according to this publication http://forages.tamu.edu/PDF/Nitrate.pdf Thanks for the comments
regolith
Well-known member
My slow connection isn't going to allow me to see that pdf... does it also tell you to cut/tear the plant at the height your cows will graze down to? That will give you the most accurate indication of what they will be eating.
